1. UPLAND

How loaded is Upland? The Highlanders have at least four players with Division I college offers before the season starts. Upland was similarly touted entering last season, but stumbled for eventually recovering to reach the CIF-SS semifinals. Look at it this way: if Upland can survive a three-week gauntlet against Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro, Santa Ana Mater Dei and Ventura St. Bonaventure, the Highlanders will prove they deserve the No. 1 ranking.

2. SAN GORGONIO

Although last year’s undefeated season ended in disappointment with a loss in the CIF-SS semifinals, this is the year the Spartans have been anticipating. They return nine players on each side of the ball, including three all-CIF players. Despite losing Sun player of the year Tahir Rashed-Mills to graduation, the offense should still be explosive, and the defense may only need to be adequate.

3. RANCHO CUCAMONGA

The Cougars, who shared the Baseline League title with Upland last year, always have players at the skill positions, and this year’s team returns plenty of talent in that regard.

4. REDLANDS EAST VALLEY

The Wildcats went out in the first round of the CIF-SS Inland Division playoffs last year, but still got two players on the all-CIF team: receiver Malik Lovette and linebacker Matteo Biscotti. But the most exciting player returning among the 15 starters back could be sophomore QB Armando Herrera. He wasn’t the starter at the beginning of last year, but became the starter and now has the benefit of an entire off-season.

5. CARTER

Forget Carter’s crushing 59-0 defeat at the hands of San Gorgonio for the San Andreas League title last year, the Lions have plenty of talent returning, 17 starters in all for their return to the Citrus Belt League. Several seniors have college offers and one junior: Lokeni Toailoa, a force at linebacker as well on offense, already has more than a dozen Division I offers and is the No. 1-ranked inside linebacker of the class of 2016 by rivals.com.

6. COLONY

The Titans went undefeated in the Mt. Baldy League last year, winning each game by at least 30 points. With junior QB Josh Thompson returning from last year’s CIF-SS semifinalists, Colony could be poised for a similar season. With nonleague schedule that has five playoff teams including Carter and Riverside Poly, the Titans might be tested earlier rather than later.

7. CHINO HILLS

Although they haven’t won a league title since 2010, the Huskies have been to the playoffs six straight years. Neither goal will be easy in the new Baseline League, With nonleague games against Newhall Hart, San Juan Capistrano JSerra, Eastvale Roosevelt and La Puente Bishop Amat, the Titans will be beat up or prepared when Baseline League play begins.

8. KAISER

The Cats made it to the CIF-SS semifinals last year, and had a stretch of six games (five league and one playoff) in which they allowed a total of 22 points. With 14 starters returning, Kaiser is poised to win another Sunkist League title and make another deep playoff run.

9. OAK HILLS

Could this be the year Oak Hills knocks off Serrano? The Bulldogs thought last year was that year, but when star running back DeZhontaey Fletcher went down with a season-ending ankle injury, Oak Hills came up short. Fletcher is back this year, and a preseason schedule that includes Encino Crespi, Los Osos and San Gorgonio could push Oak Hills over the top.

10. EISENHOWER

If people thought 2012 was a fluke for the Eagles, who had been down for years, they were proven wrong in 2013, with a share of a second straight Citrus Belt League title. Despite losing some skill players, the Eagles will return a good amount of talent

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